Also this issue:

Running' Lapse
Relapse Records' Matt Jacobson explains why he chose Philadelphia for Contamination.
-Paul Burress

Smiths and Lessons
How Johnny Marr got here from there -- and ended up singing?
-Nicole Pensiero

Sweet Tooth
-Ainé Ardron-Doley

Brad Mehldau
-A.D. Amorosi

Patti Smith
-Nicole Pensiero

Don Conoscenti
-Nicole Pensiero

DJ Nights
-Sean O'Neal

Beat Box
-Ainé Ardron-Doley

January 16-22, 2003

hearhere

The Teeth

by Patrick Rapa

Maybe the best way to get the unenlightened to take a more lingering glance at local rock is to give things the acoustic treatment. Remember how many people tuned in to Nirvana thanks to Unplugged in New York? It's a formula with results! That's pretty much the theory behind the new Sunday Indie Sunday series.

Organized by Kara Lafty (whose revamped pop powerhouse The Jane Anchor wowed Sugar Town last month), the showcase promises to get some of Philly's most intriguing rockers into the friendly, folky arms of the non-alcoholic Point, where they can turn the volume down and get pretty.

"This ain't your typical rock club," says Lafty. "It is a listening room that creates a certain intimacy between the artist and the audience." She should know: The Jane Anchor played a stripped-down, semi-acoustic show there in November. "It was new for us -- and we liked it," she says. "The songs took on a whole new vibe. As much as we love to plug in and rock our hearts out, it's a nice change of pace to go home without a ringing in the ears."

The next installment of Sunday Indie Sunday delivers Bill Ricchini and Adam Arcuragi, a couple of sensitive local artists who already know how to make quiet scenes. The future may hold Mirah with Ty Cobb on Feb. 2, and One Star Hotel with Trolleyvox on Feb. 16. Lafty's got a big wish list of local artists she'd like to pull the plug on, so stay tuned.

Sun., Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m., $5, The Point, 880 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-527-0988.

Get Out!

1. The Burning Brides, who shot at least part of their "Arctic Snow" video at the TLA over the weekend (tossing T-shirts and doing autographs just like real rock stars), will show up at the more familiar Khyber to get loud with The Catheters and Sweden's Division of Laura Lee. If everybody you know is wishing for the Brides to fall on their faces, then you're hanging out with assholes. It's time for all you cynics and dimestore critics to come out of the dark.

Sun., Jan. 19, 9 p.m., $8, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

2. Soft and comforting one minute, punchy and playful the next and then stark and sparse the minute after that, Alkali Flats' eponymous debut (recorded by Brian McTear) is a satisfyingly temperamental listening experience. Steven Binnig's soft, breathy vocals recall Joe Pernice while the music strolls through much less chartable territory. "One Fine Day" is a poised and haunting rock song with just enough melody to get you to sing along and the right amount of lyrical ambiguity to let your mind wander.

Thu., Jan. 16, 9 p.m., $6, with Kettle, The University and Wise and Foolish Builders, The Khyber.

3. There's a sense that idiosyncratic pop rockers The Teeth are going somewhere. The three college kids and one mailman come off wise and composed beyond their youth and confident enough to get the show on the road. On Send My Regards to the Sunshine, dueling frontmen/brothers Peter and Aaron MoDavis deliver lines like "the bathroom's good for introverts" with Thom Yorke's ethereal energy and Stephen Malkmus' carelessness. Piano waltzes swoon with romantic grace, while the more rocking numbers mix the acoustic with the electric to come up with an earthy intensity.

Mon., Jan. 20, call for time and cover, with The Three 4 Tens, Silk City, Fifth and Spring Garden sts., 215-592-8838; Wed., Jan. 22, 9 p.m., $6, with The High Strung and Particle Seven, The Khyber.

4. I e-mailed local jokers The Donuts to ask if the big box of Krispy Kremes they dropped off at the City Paper office was an attempt to schmooze me. "Absolutely," came the reply from an unnamed Donut (or maybe it was all of them). Well, the lactose (or would it be laktose?) within the Kremes prevented this music editor from partaking, but the band made momentary fans of the other CP staffers.

Good news for the band: The four-song demo (produced by Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner) that came with the treats is an excellent bit of catchy rock 'n' roll. The vocals (provided by a "J. Bearclaw") have all the swoon and swagger of They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh, but the music's more like indie pop with athletic guitars and melodic hooks. ("We worship at the altar of Robert Pollard," they exclaim in unison.) Asked what one should expect at The Donuts' debut gig this Saturday at The Fire, they respond: "A sellout; arrive early."

Sat., Jan. 18, 9 p.m., $6, with One Star Hotel and Kwait Brothers Band, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298.

5. Led by screaming crazy man Paul Kowalchuk, Chino (whom we told you all about in our October music issue) makes blasting arena rock for dirty little rooms. The bluesy garage rock guitar and catchy, resounding choruses will have you dancing and spilling your lager.

Fri., Jan. 17, 10 p.m., $7, with The University and Surround, Plain Parade at Doc Watson's, 216 S. 11th St., 215-922-3427.